Project Manager Technical Writer

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Market researcher (including competitive intelligence and industry trend analysis), technical writer, analyst and project manager for major, global OEMs and leading providers of automotive production, sales and powertrain forecasts, with a technical focus on engines, propulsion systems, and emerging vehicle technologies, including hybrids, electric and autonomous vehicles

Author of daily technical (internal) powertrain newsletter for a major global OEM, as well as model-year change summaries (with an emphasis on powertrain) and contributing author/editor/proofreader for automotive industry news and forecasting organizations

Seeking to apply technical knowledge and experience, ideally in a long-term, permanent position

TECHNICAL SKILLS

MS Office (Word, Excel (including Pivot Tables), Outlook, PowerPoint, Access), SPSS, Adobe, CMS.

Survey design and administration

Interviewing

Academic, primary and secondary research

Program evaluation

Project management

Copywriting/technical writing, proofreading, editing

Data entry

Media relations

Public relations

Marketing

Market research/competitive intelligence gathering

Benchmarking and trend identification

Forecasting

Search engine optimization (SEO)

Qualitative and quantitative analysis

Category

management

AP style

Knowledge of current and forthcoming regulatory requirements (including CAFE, GHG and emissions compliance)

Product planning/strategy

Hands-on automotive repair/maintenance

Overall automotive industry current and historical knowledge and enthusiasm/passion (particularly powertrain/propulsion systems)

20 years of industry experience

Rudimentary Spanish

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

06/2021-06/2024

Senior Research Manager

MarkLines North America, Inc. (Automotive Industry Information Portal) Southfield, MI

Researched overall industry trends, with an emphasis on tier 1 suppliers and major OEMs; other topics include electrification efforts, charging infrastructure, recalls, etc.

Represented company at industry events, conducted interviews, performed supplier research for selected components for mainstream makes and models, and composed long-form reports

Performed detailed vehicle inspections to obtain primary information regarding which supplier supplies which parts to which OEMs and models

Performed research and writing for daily subscriber newsletter

07/2017-04/2018

Senior Analyst – North American Powertrain Forecasting/Market Intelligence

IHS Markit Southfield, MI

Generated and maintained vehicle, engine, transmission, driveline and hybrid/EV production and sales forecasts, along with authoring technical summaries regarding these systems/technologies, and explaining and defending rationale behind these forecasts

Performed primary and secondary research to support these forecasts, as well as documenting industry and regulatory trends, and provided competitive intelligence as it relates to light-vehicle propulsion systems

Provided general support for the above responsibilities, responded to client inquiries, used proprietary (primary) data to capture actual powertrain/technological penetration and sales and performed in-depth research of new and emerging technologies and OEM strategies

This position was eliminated as part of departmental reorganization

05/2016-07/2016

Market Research Specialist (Temporary/Contract)

General Motors Company (Aquent/Allegis) Warren, MI

Translated qualitative consumer research on autonomous vehicles into actionable business (product and service) opportunities, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods

Developed end-user-focused presentation materials (for both internal and external audiences) to allow for real-time adjustment of variables/outcomes, mainly through macro-based adjustments to Excel flow charts

10/2013-03/2016

Research Specialist/Analyst, Powertrain

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (KForce) Saline, MI

Researched, documented and tracked global powertrain trends (via automotive press, OEM and supplier media/marketing sites), wrote executive summaries and technical reports for competitive intelligence analysis, benchmarking and product planning, including product recommendations

Authored daily internal powertrain newsletter, which focused specifically on governmental regulations (CAFE and emissions compliance), primarily for product planners and powertrain engineers

Produced custom reports for these audiences and on an ad-hoc basis

Applied standardized categories and key words to selected content for internal cataloging/category management and to support future information searches

Performed vehicle-level analysis and information gathering, updated and verified technical powertrain specifications, and tracked powertrain/technology trends, including (but not limited to) hybridization/electrification, lightweighting, direct-injection, forced induction, engine start/stop, high-step transmissions/DCTs/CVTs, diesel, fuel cells, and off-cycle credits (HVAC, window tinting, reflective paints/coatings) etc.

Presented technical information (textual, tables, spreadsheets, etc.) to effectively communicate with a non-native English-speaking audience

Contract not renewed

05/201*-**-****

Analyst (Temporary/Contract)

LMC Automotive (formerly J.D. Power Automotive Forecasting) Troy, MI

Performed plant and model level research for Powertrain Application Forecasts by global region, which included the North American Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Forecasts, with a technical focus on engines, propulsion systems and new & emerging vehicle technologies

Contributing author and proofreader for the above-mentioned products

Compiled, verified and entered drivetrain and vehicle specifications into company database

10/2011-03/2012

Specifications Analyst (Temporary/Contract)

Motor Information Systems Troy, MI

Compiled, verified and created engine serpentine belt routing diagrams for the 2000 model-year through 2012; also audited historical information for the 1990s

Researched, verified and entered preventive maintenance schedules, specifications and service intervals and procedures for light vehicles in a standardized database format (in Access and Excel)

01/2007 to 07/2011

Research Assistant/Associate

WardsAuto Southfield, MI

Contributing author and editor for website and print products, including technical summaries of model year changes in a uniform format/style/voice across all major U.S. market brands

Compiled, verified and updated engine and vehicle specifications and pricing data

Assembled reports for automotive sales and production in selected global markets, prepared custom data reports for clients (including historic and factory-installed equipment statistics) and handled media relations

Contacted companies, associations, agencies and subject matter experts (SMEs) to verify and update executive biographies, as well as product and assembly/manufacturing plant data for all major global and U.S. automakers

Reported on national economies and their impact on automotive sales and/or production

Devised and implemented a new research procedure to track and update information concerning worldwide assembly plants and interrelationships between the world’s auto makers on a monthly basis, versus previous procedure of updating bi-annually

Tracked data on new-vehicle fuel economy and sales incentives

Acting as a project manager, worked across departments to design and implement improvements to the data collection process for the Ward’s Dealer Business rankings, including a redesigned print and electronic survey instrument, which resulted in more timely and accurate responses and increased copy/stories for website and print publications; aided in transitioning to web-based data collection

Utilized time saved by these process improvements to digitize archival (historical) information/specifications/data sets

Represented company and provided support for industry events (Ten Best Engines Awards and Interiors Conference)

This position was eliminated during budget cuts/downsizing

02/2005 to 01/2007

Customer Logistics Coordinator/Call Center

Ryder Integrated Logistics Farmington Hills, MI

Coordinated just-in-time shipments between suppliers, carriers and client (General Motors)

Monitored freight and informed assembly plants of delays and parts discrepancies

Monitored supplier schedules and shipments to protect assembly plant production

Provided intensive on-the-job training to new hires

09/2002 to 12/2002

Research Assistant (Internship)

The Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Ann Arbor, MI

Researched and contacted local/state governments and agencies

Performed preliminary analysis of primary electoral returns data and entered into database

Archived data for use by the research community (New York Times/ABC News poll)

Authored abstracts/summaries primarily for academic journal articles, as well as tagging and providing keywords (search engine optimization) for these and other products

05/2002 to 08/2002

Public Relations Assistant (Internship)

DENSO International America, Inc. Southfield, MI

Researched and authored company press releases and internal publications

Designed, developed and implemented new classification system for media library

Updated/revised DENSO company files, and both the North American and media websites

Contributing editor and proofreader for internal and external company publications

EDUCATION

Schoolcraft College; Livonia, MI

Associate of Arts – General Studies – June 2000

4.00 GPA

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